Hi,
1984 flh - the bike will start fine and then it may not start. All you here is the solenoid activating. might start if you hit the starter with something or put it into gear and rock back and forth. What could be the problem?
Thanks,Gary

Sounds like you have either a bad winding on your starter or a bad segment on the commutator - also - less likely the brushes are wearing down on your starter. You will either have to replace the starter or take it off and resolve which ever of the problems mentioned above.

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Alignment isn't your problem. Most likely the solenoid. Not pulling the bendix back, replace the starter or bendix. if alignment could be the problem, I have seen it , The starter needs shimmed out. in very rare occasions, I have done a per bolt shim. Only because some one has put a grinder to the mating surfaces.

Hi,
Sounds like the solenoid contact point is not hitting the solenoid cap.
The solenoid cap have this two terminal( + ) which when you activate the solenoid, a rod would push copper bar and short the two terminal, thus giving power for the starter motor to wind up.
You should pull down again the starter and check that solenoid cap and make sure the contact points are clean and equally seated when it was hit bay a fusing bar.
Thanks for using FixYa!

Try cleaning your starter button. If it continues to malfunction you may have to replace the right switch assembly. Your starter button is a two position switch. It first turns off the headlight, then it activates the starter solenoid. When your fuses, battery, wiring. and wiring connections are good usually you are dealing with a bad button/switch.

Hi, I would still suspect the battery. Lights and ignition do not really draw much current neither does the bike when running.. Your battery goes almost flat when the starter is engaged lots of amps are required. Try this check: remove the battery (undo negative lead first please) then connect a high wattage bulb across the terminals see how long it takes for the bulb to dim. If the bulb is still bright after an hour re charge the battery (please use a dedicated bike charger max output 1 amp). Re-fit the battery (connect positive lead first please). If bike still does not start check starter solenoid is activating it should click when you press the start button. Hope this helps.

The contacts in your starter solenoid are burnt , dirty, or just not making a good enough connection to activate the starter. If you bypass the solenoid and the bike starts normally, then you just need to replace the starter solenoid.

you just wasted the new solenoid, go buy another one and a new starter, also check to see if the fuse is blown, if the fuse is blown, your starter is going bad...you can verify all of what i'm saying if you know how to push start a bike...if it push starts, then everything else is fine, except for the starter circuitry..eg, starter switch, starter solenoid,or the Starter itself! Have you or the previous owner ever change out your starter? Well it would be a good guess that since it a 1984 model and my guess is that the bike probably has 40k on it, and that the starter is bad or going bad, or you have a major short in the battery cables that is cooking the solenoid..check all the wires for chaffing first, before replacing the starter.if this has helped in the least amount could i get a testimonial from you.thanksand please get back to me if it didnt, we can try a few more things!

If you can identify the in/out connectors on it (these will be beefier than the solenoid control input), you can use an automotive 'test light' or meter on it.
With the light, you will have close to your battery voltage until the solenoid is activated with the start switch, then it should extinguish.
With meter set to 20 V DC range, you should see the battery voltage and this should drop to zero when the start switch is supplying voltage to the solenoid coil.
You might check over all connections in the lines to the starter since corrosion can cause too much voltage drop which starves the starter which will draw double digit amperes.